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Replacing brake booster

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Old 07-30-2023, 09:11 AM
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Golferdad
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Default Replacing brake booster

I bought a tuff stuff power brake booster and MC months ago,and after a little research found that where the location was would be a challenge,and after a hour,finally found they were 15mm nuts,and would need a swivel and at least 12-15 inch extensions and a deep wall socket,because the bolt threads come out 1 1/2-2 inches,fine threads,so,a lot of turning.this is on a 1981,to begin with I’m not a big guy,and even though I am 62,I can still twist and turn very good,which you will have to do,first,I already have seats and carpet out already,I don’t see any way to do this with the seats in the way,I couldn’t.as I look with a good light can only see 1 nut,their is a huge wire harness the size of my wrist in the way,took a long plastic tie and tied it to the brake pedal tight out the way,and could see all bolts,so at this point I have removed three nuts,and the top corner one,everyone says is tough is all I have left,and unhooking the Clevice which I still haven’t seen yet,but it’s alot of wires,but this is a tough job.
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Old 07-30-2023, 09:31 AM
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Rescue Rogers
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It sucks for sure...good luck
Old 07-30-2023, 09:52 AM
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doorgunner
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It gets much easier after the 2nd time.
You learn where to reposition/zip-tie the wire bundles permanently...
How to grind points on the end of the bolts so they "find" the nuts much easier...
How to use that battery nut-driver to remove/install bolts.

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Old 07-30-2023, 10:05 AM
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John 65
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Did mine on my 77 a few months ago and found the only way to reach that top left nut was with a short stubby ratchet and a deep socket.
No universal or extensions. An 81 dash is different so not sure if that helps. Also I used the same clip for the clevis again, the new repro wasnt the same as the original.

Old 07-31-2023, 07:54 AM
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Catfish4818
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On our 1972, the only way I was able to access that top left nut was to remove the driver's side dash, which then gave me a straight shot at it. I know your dash is a bit different, so this may not help you.

When I installed the new booster, I did not reinstall that last nut. Three out of four kept the booster quite stable.

Good luck with this difficult job!


Old 08-01-2023, 08:15 PM
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Golferdad
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Yea,putting it on was a lot easier,and got all the bolts in it,so,I hope I never do that again,but if I had to do it again right now,I could take it off in less than two hrs.
Old 08-01-2023, 08:17 PM
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Golferdad
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Yea,once you maneuvered you’re body right it wasn’t bad.
Old 08-02-2023, 08:45 AM
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resdoggie
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Had you removed the steering column, which is easy to do, it would have been a cake walk.
Old 08-02-2023, 09:00 AM
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Golferdad
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It sure would have been,because it’s the main object in the way for sure,I took two big bolts under steering colum out,hoping I could at least drop the colum down a few inches,but it didn’t move,did see above them two more smaller bolts,took one of them out,but didn’t see where that would do me any good,and I’m assuming I could of taken the two bolts holding colum to the firewall out,but thought that might be opening another can of worms,so didn’t,but if you take those two bolts out can you just pull the whole steering colum out.thanks,because I do need to remove it so I can paint the colum silver.
Old 08-02-2023, 08:41 PM
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That looks much better,thanks for the help.
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